248 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVI. 



Observations. — Described from a perfect $ and 9 . It is the only 

 member of this group yet found in Ceylon. The general appearance at 

 once separates it from all allied forms, except Phoniomyia longirostris, 

 but the proboscis is shorter and not longer than the body as in that genus. 



The metanotal chsetfe are difficult to see, and the strange $ antennse 

 are rather contorted, so only a diagramatic figure is given. 

 RACHIONOTOMYIA, nov. gen. 



Head clothed with flat scales only ; palpi moderate sized in 9 ; 

 proboscis long, as long as the whole body ; antennse of 9 densely pilose, 

 hairs rather long. Palpi moderate clavate. Thorax clothed with 

 spindle-shaped scales • scutellum drawn out into a large thick back- 

 wardly projecting spine hiding to a large extent the metanotum, on the 

 basal area of the scutellum flat scales which also occur on the base of the 

 wings, the spine with scales also, some flat, some on ventral surface 

 forked. Abdomen normal, but the scales large and rather loosely 

 applied, giving a faint rugged appearance. Wings with rather short 

 fork-cells, median scales on the branches of the second long vein thick 

 and dense, also on first long vein, lateral vein scales scanty, linear but 

 broader than in Culex ; upper costal border spiny. Legs normal. Male 

 unknown. 



This genus is very marked owing to the strange scutellar process. It 

 is the only genus in which I have seen any marked structural peculia- 

 rity in the scutellum, all other genera having the scutellum simple 

 (Anophelinze and Corethrinse) or trilobed (Culcinte, &c). 



RACHIONOTOMYIA CEYLONENSIS, nOV. Sp. (fig. 6). 



Head brown with dull violet reflections and a grey border around 

 the eyes ; palpi, proboscis and antennae dark brown ; proboscis as 

 long as the body. Thorax brown to testaceous brown, pleurse bright 

 clear brown with some silvery white scales ; scutellar spine brown. 

 Abdomen deep brown above, ochreous below, neither banded nor 

 spotted. Legs deep brown, pale testaceous at their bases. Wings 

 with brown scales. 



9 Head clothed with large flat scales, brown in some lights, dull 

 violet in others, around the eyes a border of dull white or grey scales ; 

 two black bristles project forwards between the eyes and traces of 

 others at the sides ; proboscis deep brown, as long as the whole body, 

 curved upwards ; palpi deep brown ; small, but prominent clavate ; 



